Muslims, Christians Want United, Just Nigeria
"Yes, at the beginning there were such fears (of religion polarizing the country) because then people were coming with preconceived notions of what they were coming to do: religious agenda, ethnic agenda and so on," Mallam Yunusa Yau, a delegate at the conference, told OnIslam.net.
"But as people talk and interact with one another, people now see that everybody is just talking about the same issues of justice and fairness which unites everybody. So I think probably we will be able to come to terms with ourselves," Yau, a prominent rights activist, added.
Coming 100 years after the mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south were united, the 492-delegate national confab has been inaugurated by president Goodluck Jonathan last March 17.
Set for three months, the conference has been tasked to discuss the challenges facing the heterogeneous country and come up with solutions that would cement its unity.
Though many expected the issue of Nigeria’s division to be discussed in the conference, delegates from both faiths appeared determined on seeking a united, just country for all.
They also expressed the hope that the country would emerge more united and stronger from the conference and urged delegates to ditch "preconceived notions and prejudices" against one another and instead work to resolve issues of common concern.
"Any move to divide the country along ethno-religious lines will definitely not address the question of poverty, under develop went and greed of the political class," Mallam Abdullahi Shuaib, coordinator of Conference of Islamic Organization (CIO) said.
He said while Muslims have protested the lopsidedness of representation at the conference, "we are not for division. We want peace and progress for Nigeria. We want a united Nigeria. We want a just Nigeria."
Pastor Taiwo Ibirogba of the Redeemed Christian Church of God echoed a similar view.
“The bottom line of the issues affecting this country is lack of fairness, justice and love. While all of us cannot be Christians or Muslims, there is no running away from the fact that we are all human beings,” he told OnIslam.net.
Ibirogba added that the way out of the "many issues are not to call for division of the country as this will not resolve any issue. The real issue is that we should make our government accountable and responsive."
According to many delegates, the problem in Nigeria is not religious or ethnic, but how sincere and committed each individual is to the question of justice and fairness.
Source: On Islam
